San Francisco International to Albany International SFO → ALB
2,218 nautical miles (2,553 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 066°, about 052° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 13 h 03 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 50-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:02 am EDT (04:02 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SFO is VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 5 knots; ALB is marginal VFR, wind calm. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 1 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words
Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 260 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 100 to 160 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 210 to 749 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 240 to 769 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 669 to 889 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 749 to 829 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 869 to 1229 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist). Over the last 230 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the last 120 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from SFO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 18 forecast points nearest it (SFO, SAC, RNO, BAM, ELY, SLC, RKS, BFF, ONL, FSD, MCW, LSE, GRB, MKG, CLE, BUF, SYR, ALB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 260° at 16 kt | −16 kt | 136 kt | 16 h 19 min | 3:18 am EDT (07:18 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 14 kt | −14 kt | 17 °C | 134 kt | 16 h 33 min | 3:32 am EDT (07:32 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 260° at 16 kt | −17 kt | 11 °C | 137 kt | 16 h 11 min | 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | −20 kt | 6 °C | 140 kt | 15 h 51 min | 2:50 am EDT (06:50 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 260° at 21 kt | −22 kt | 2 °C | 142 kt | 15 h 37 min | 2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 260° at 22 kt | −23 kt | -2 °C | 143 kt | 15 h 31 min | 2:30 am EDT (06:30 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 23 kt | −24 kt | -7 °C | 144 kt | 15 h 24 min | 2:23 am EDT (06:23 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 24 kt | −25 kt | -11 °C | 145 kt | 15 h 18 min | 2:17 am EDT (06:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 25 kt | −25 kt | -12 °C | 145 kt | 15 h 18 min | 2:17 am EDT (06:17 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 36 kt | −36 kt | -23 °C | 156 kt | 14 h 13 min | 1:12 am EDT (05:12 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 43 kt | −45 kt | -34 °C | 165 kt | 13 h 27 min | 12:26 am EDT (04:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 47 kt | −49 kt | -40 °C | 169 kt | 13 h 07 min | 12:06 am EDT (04:06 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 46 kt | −50 kt | -46 °C | 170 kt | 13 h 03 min | 12:02 am EDT (04:02 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.
The forecast points as issued
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 010/6 | 360/13 5° | 360/17 -3° | 350/39 -2° | 350/56 -11° | 350/57 -24° | 350/59 -40° | 340/50 -46° | 320/30 -47° |
| SAC | used from 50 nm out; 36 nm from the line | L/V | 320/8 4° | 330/12 -3° | 350/25 -6° | 350/63 -12° | 340/65 -24° | 340/60 -40° | 340/45 -45° | 290/24 -45° |
| RNO | used from 100 nm out; 65 nm from the line | L/V | 280/12 -4° | 260/15 -10° | 340/47 -17° | 340/75 -25° | 330/47 -37° | 280/20 -40° | 240/24 -42° | |
| BAM | used from 250 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 270/8 -4° | 260/21 -11° | 190/44 -21° | 200/54 -28° | 210/38 -31° | 220/38 -35° | 210/35 -41° | ||
| ELY | used from 300 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 210/17 0° | 220/30 -6° | 190/50 -19° | 200/56 -28° | 210/76 -32° | 210/63 -37° | 210/59 -43° | ||
| SLC | used from 450 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 180/7 | 200/22 2° | 200/30 -4° | 210/47 -16° | 200/73 -27° | 210/81 -32° | 210/71 -37° | 210/55 -43° | |
| RKS | used from 600 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 210/15 | 220/17 -1° | 220/32 -14° | 220/69 -25° | 220/70 -30° | 220/70 -39° | 220/56 -44° | ||
| BFF | used from 799 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 310/15 | 280/27 8° | 250/27 2° | 230/30 -12° | 240/52 -22° | 250/66 -32° | 240/78 -37° | 240/76 -43° | |
| ONL | used from 999 nm out; 101 nm from the line | 270/16 17° | 250/25 13° | 230/34 7° | 230/46 -9° | 240/57 -22° | 250/72 -31° | 250/87 -36° | 250/75 -46° | |
| FSD | used from 1149 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 260/9 | 210/16 18° | 220/27 14° | 230/28 6° | 240/39 -9° | 240/48 -22° | 260/52 -32° | 260/61 -38° | 260/60 -46° |
| MCW | used from 1299 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 220/19 | 210/29 20° | 230/35 13° | 250/35 5° | 250/33 -9° | 260/44 -21° | 260/46 -33° | 270/58 -37° | 270/59 -46° |
| LSE | used from 1399 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 240/16 | 230/27 20° | 250/35 12° | 260/28 5° | 260/30 -9° | 260/37 -21° | 260/38 -36° | 280/44 -37° | 280/52 -47° |
| GRB | used from 1549 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 260/10 | 240/27 16° | 260/31 10° | 270/25 5° | 280/31 -10° | 280/35 -22° | 270/46 -37° | 290/43 -40° | 300/64 -48° |
| MKG | used from 1599 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 240/27 | 240/26 15° | 270/27 9° | 280/27 5° | 280/28 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/41 -38° | 290/44 -41° | 300/60 -48° |
| CLE | used from 1799 nm out; 127 nm from the line | 280/17 | 270/17 14° | 280/22 10° | 290/26 4° | 290/25 -8° | 280/31 -21° | 280/35 -36° | 280/43 -44° | 300/53 -48° |
| BUF | used from 1899 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 270/25 | 300/28 14° | 300/29 8° | 310/29 2° | 300/30 -9° | 290/33 -21° | 290/44 -37° | 290/56 -47° | 300/62 -51° |
| SYR | used from 2048 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 290/24 | 310/27 13° | 310/34 8° | 320/32 2° | 300/32 -10° | 300/40 -21° | 300/45 -37° | 310/58 -47° | 310/64 -54° |
| ALB | used from 2148 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/25 12° | 330/29 8° | 330/29 3° | 320/34 -10° | 310/42 -21° | 320/43 -37° | 330/55 -47° | 320/52 -54° |
The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO San Francisco, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 feet | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 13 ft | 6:56 am PDT (13:56 UTC) |
| SCK Stockton, CA | 60 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 32 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| TMT Austin, NV | 270 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,200 feet, overcast at 4,200 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 7 mi | 3,200 ft | 5,735 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | 520 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 14,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 14:54 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 859 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,401 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| ANW Ainsworth, NE | 1069 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots | 1.25 mi | 300 ft | 2,588 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| SPW Spencer, IA | 1279 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,338 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| MSN Madison, WI | 1539 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 22,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| MBS Saginaw, MI | 1769 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 668 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| IAG Niagara Falls, NY | 1988 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 592 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| ROC Rochester, NY | 2048 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: mist | from the west (260°) at 7 knots | 6 mi | 1,000 ft | 558 ft | 14:54 UTC |
| ALB Albany, NY | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 3,600 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 284 ft | 10:51 am EDT (14:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,735 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ALB when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:02 am EDT (04:02 UTC)
Wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for ALB
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, light drizzle, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, light drizzle, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
The forecast for SFO, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 9,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at SFO 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC), at ALB 6:18 pm EDT (22:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:46 pm EDT (22:46 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ALB is before sunrise there (7:05 am EDT (11:05 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads
Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: San Francisco International, Albany International.